Festival season is on the horizon which means it’s almost time to start donning wellies and braids. There are some brilliant boutique festivals in Britain that go beyond the traditions of the big players like Glastonbury — we’ve rounded up six of the best. Whether you’d like to gain wilderness survival skills, indulge in a long-table banquet or enjoy after-dark DJ sets, there is something fun for everyone
We Are FSTVL, 28-29 May, from £69.50, Upminster, Greater London
We Are FSTVL comes with a luxurious twist this year — a five-star service hosted by London’s Cuckoo Club and Raffles of Chelsea. The VVIP package includes backstage entrance, personal concierge and table service, sushi, Burger & Lobster bars, a private main stage viewing platform, artist meet and greets and lots more. Watch performances by Fatboy Slim, Craig David, Hannah Wants, Sigma and Mistajam among others. Buy ticket
Latitude Festival, 14-17 July, from £84, Henham Park, Suffolk
A family friendly festival where kids can find themselves down the rabbit hole with Alice, gaining wildlife survival skills or learning outside of the classroom with the Schools Programme. This year’s lineup includes music from The Macabees and The Lumineers, comedy from Josh Widdicombe and Russell Howard and late night DJ sets. Buy ticket
The Secret Garden Party, 21-24 July, £180, Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire
Be at one with creativity with this beautiful festival overflowing with colour and mystery. It’s set on the grounds of a Georgian farm house with a lake, river and landscaped gardens, and alongside the eclectic mix of music — including Caribou and Primal Scream — you can enjoy poetry readings, barefoot discos, open-mic stages and boats rides as well as other activities. Be prepared to experience something new, and if you aren’t going to learn, go to teach. Buy ticket
Port Eliot Festival, 28-31 July, from £30, St Germans, Cornwall
Peregrine and Cathy St Germans will be opening up their home as the playground for a truly magical festival. Whether you’re swimming in the estuary, picnicking under a 300 year old tree, rocking out at the Park Stage, canoeing on the river or catching an intimate gig in the church, this little corner of Cornwall is yours to enjoy — the perfect place for fun exploration. Buy ticket
Wilderness Festival, 4-7 August 2016, from £177, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
If you love getting lost in the wild, spend four harmonious days in a nature reserve celebrating the arts and the outdoors, with long-table banquets, an open-air theatre, talks and debates and a yoga studio. There is also music from Robert Plant and Crystal Fighters to Parov Stelar and an orchestra David Bowie tribute. A boutique campsite offers a variety of luxury options including Yurts and beautiful Gypsy Wagons. Buy ticket
Festival No.6, 1-4 September, from £110, Portmeirion, Wales
Set in the Italianate coastal village of Portmeirion, this intimate music and arts festival offers something serene, spiritual and special. Lose yourself in your own fairytale, whether you’re watching Hot Chip in the lush gardens, catching comedian Ricky Tomlinson in the Gatehouse, strolling along the sandy shores or enjoying the torchlight parade. “This is the coolest, most surrealist, funkiest, freakiest, best festival in the world…”, Beck. Buy ticket
Main image: Port Eliot Festival, credit Michael Bowles
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